Snuff box

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid, a bottom part and a dividing wall which divides the interior of the snuff box in two volumes. The dividing wall is moveably arranged but the snuff box comprises only two separate continuous elements and may under optimal circumstances advantageously be moulded in only two process steps. The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid comprises a driving element arranged to shift the dividing wall. Further the invention relates to such a snuff box where the dividing wall is divided into two dividing wall parts, a first dividing wall part fixedly attached to the bottom part and a second dividing wall part fixedly attached to the lid. Yet further the invention relates to such a snuff box where the lid is provided with two lid portions which advantageously give separate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the box into.

The present invention relates to a snuff box according to the introductory portions of the independent claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using snuff, and then in particular portion-packed snuff, there is a need for snuff boxes with a separate volume intended for used snuff. Snuff boxes with a fixed such volume is today available on the market, but the storage space for used snuff disadvantageously consumes part of the volume of the whole snuff box. A way of circumventing this is to divide the snuff box in two portions with a moveable separator and one of the earliest patents relating to such snuff boxes is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,219. The snuff box comprises a lid, a bottom and a separator constituted by two metal plates attached to each other by a hinge, where the two parts are pressed against each other with a spring. The design comprises a large number of components and is not well suited for mass production.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a snuff box which makes production of such snuff boxes simpler.

These and other objects are attained by a snuff box according to the characterising portions of the independent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1 a-c) rotatable relative to each other, and a dividing wall (2 a, 2 b). The dividing wall (2 a, 2 b) divides the interior of the snuff box in two volumes, and the dividing wall (2 a, 2 b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2 a) and a second dividing wall part (2 b), which are moveable relative to each other. The first dividing wall part (2 a) is fixedly attached to the bottom part and the second dividing wall part (2 b) is fixedly attached to the lid. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first dividing wall part (2 a) and the bottom part is constituted by a first continuous piece of material and the second dividing wall part (2 b) and the lid is constituted by a second continuous piece of material.

The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid comprises a driving element arranged to shift the dividing wall.

Yet further the invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5 a, 5 b) which advantageously give separate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the box into.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen at an oblique angle from above

FIG. 3 shows a lid with a single opening of the first embodiment

FIG. 4 shows a lid with dual openings of the first embodiment

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from the side

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from above

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen at an oblique angle from above

FIG. 9 shows a lid with a single opening of the second embodiment

FIG. 10 shows a lid with dual openings of the second embodiment

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box with indicators

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part 1 a seen from above and at an oblique angle from above, respectively. The bottom part 1 a is essentially cylindrical with a covered bottom and is adapted for receiving a lid. In the bottom part 1 a is a dividing wall 2 a, 2 b with two halves arranged, a fixed dividing wall part 2 a and a moveable dividing wall part 2 b. The fixed dividing wall part 2 a is a plane piece of material that extends from the cylinder wall towards the box centre and is fixedly arranged in this position. From the centre axis of the box a moveable dividing wall part 2 b extends towards the cylinder wall. The moveable dividing wall part 2 b is attached to the moveable, but in such a way that it can be pivoted relative to that.

On the cylinder wall interior a number of recesses 3 are arranged and a protruding portion of the moveable dividing wall part 2 b is normally placed in one of these recesses. If the moveable dividing wall part is made to rotate around the centre axis of the box, it tends to move in a stepwise fashion from recess to recess, and unloaded it is locked in one of these recesses.

The dividing wall 2 a, 2 b separates the box in two separate volumes, one intended for used snuff and the other for unused snuff. At purchase, the dividing wall may be arranged such that the volume intended for unused snuff is maximized and filled with snuff. As the snuff is consumed this volume is emptied and the portion for used snuff may be extended by shifting the position of the dividing wall 2 b.

To separate access to the two volumes in a natural way, the box is provided with a lid 4 with one 5 a or two lid parts 5 a, 5 b. The lid parts 5 a, 5 b may be opened without the lid in its entirety being removed and then access is given to one of the two volumes. In FIGS. 2-4 is shown the two versions of lids with one (FIG. 3) or two (FIG. 4) openings of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box where the lid is provided with a driving mechanism 6 that acts on the moveable dividing wall part 2 b. FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box where the lid is provided with an alternative driving mechanism 6 and a volume indicator 7. The volume indicator 7 is constituted by a somewhat protruding line which initially runs along both the snuff box bottom part and lid, but as the lid is rotated relative to the bottom part, the distance between the line on the lid and the line on the bottom part indicates the remaining space of the box.

FIGS. 7-8 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above and from above at an oblique angle. FIGS. 9-10 show a lid of the second embodiment with a single opening and dual openings, respectively. In the second embodiment of the snuff box the two dividing wall parts 2 a, 2 b are arranged such that the dividing wall part 2 a, which is fixedly attached to the bottom part, is not attached to the moveable dividing wall part 2 b, but instead the relative to the bottom part moveable dividing wall part 2 b is fixedly attached to the lid. When the lid is pushed onto the bottom part, the moveable dividing wall part 2 b, which is fixedly attached to the lid, is positioned such that it extends from the centre axis of the bottom part towards the cylinder wall in the same way as in the first embodiment described above. By turning the lid relative to the bottom part, the ratio between the two volumes is changed. It may also be advantageous for this embodiment that the lid has a peg 8 arranged around the centre axis which, when the box is assembled, extends towards the bottom part and is received there by a steering element around which the peg may rotate.

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box where the lid and the bottom part are provided on their exteriors with indicators. These are appropriately positioned against each other by production and as the two volumes change ratio the indicator on the lid indicates how the ratio between the two volumes have changed by turning the lid relative to the bottom part. In this simplified illustration of the second embodiment the openings in the lid are not shown and any version of the openings in the lid may be used. 

1. A snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1 a-c) rotatable relative to each other, a dividing wall (2 a, 2 b) arranged to divide the interior of the snuff box in two volumes, where said dividing wall (2 a, 2 b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2 a) and a second dividing wall part (2 b), which are moveable relative to each other, characterised in that said first dividing wall part (2 a) is fixedly attached to said bottom part and said second dividing wall part (2 b) is fixedly attached to said lid.
 2. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said first dividing wall part (2 a) and the bottom part are constituted by a first continuous piece of material, while said second dividing wall part (2 b) and said lid are constituted by a second continuous piece of material.
 3. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said lid comprises a driving element arranged to shift the dividing wall.
 4. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5 a, 5 b).
 5. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said snuff box further is provided with indicators (7) acting as a volume indicator. 